Radiator-cap lock



Jun 2.4

E. c. RENAUD RADIATOR CAP LOCK Filed May 1, 1922 INVENTOR. Maf/ BY Wm, UVV/W /v/a A'I'TORNEY.

Patented .lune 24, 1924.

EDWIN C. RENAUD', GF ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI,

RADIATOR-CAP 1.00K. l l

Application filed May 1,

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, EDWIN C. RENAUD, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Joseph, in the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Radiator- Cap Locks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in radiator cap locks. It relates particularly to cap locks for automobile radiatorl caps having motor meters mounted therein.

One of the objects of my invention 'is to provide a cap lock adapted to be applied to filling tubes of diiferent diameters without requiring devices of diierent sizes.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a novel adapter having means for releasa-bly locking thereto a capyand having an annular flaring seat adapted to center itself and to i'it lilling tubes of diii`erent diameters and having novel means for holding the adapter `troni felonious removal from the filling tube on which Vit is mounted. Y

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel cap lock of the kind described, which is simple, cheap to make, durable, not liable to get out oforder, which can be easily and quickly applied to the majority of lilling tubes now in use and which will securely hold the radiator cap and a motor meter carried thereby 'from unauthorized removal.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the preferred embodiment of my invention,

Fig., 1 is a front elevation of my iin-- proved cap lock, shown applied to a radiator filling tube.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, partly broken away, on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4f is a horizontal section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is. a vertical sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the adjusting screw and parts connected therewith, the adjusting screw and pivoted locking members being shown in the unlocked position.

19252.v Serial No. 557,499.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the different views. 1 designates an ordinary radiator filling tube, in which is mounted the lower end of a vertical tubular adapter 2, having an upwardly and outwardly flaring annular seat 3, in which is mounted a ring gasket' et, which bears against the upper end of the illing tube 1.

The adapter 2 may be provided with an annular downwardly extending yflange 5, which projects below the upper end of the filling tube and which serves asa guard for preventing the insertion of 'wires or .-f'

instruments into the filling tube,-.and also to prevent any undue lateral tilting of the adapter.

The upper end of the adapter is externally threaded and has fitted thereon an ordinary radiator cap 6, having a central vertical hole through which extends the thread ed stem 7, of a motor meter 8, of an ordinary type.

To hold the cap 6 from being unscrewed from the adapter 2, the latter has mounted init an ordinary lock casing 9, adapted to receive a key 10, and provided with an inwardly and outwardly movable bolt 11. This casing 9 may contain any well known lock mechanism by which the key 10 opere ates the bolt 11. The latter, in the locking position, shown in Fi s. 2 and 4, is in the path of movement o a downwardly extending` flange 12, of a flat horizontal plate 13, having a hole through which extends the stem 7. A nut 14 mounted on the stem 7 bearsl against the lower side of the plate 13, and clamps the latter against the under side of the cap 6. A lock nut 15 mounted on'the stem 7 bears against the under side of the nut 14. A screw cap 16 is fitted in the usual manner on the lower end of th stem 7.

The cap 2 has a downwardly extending projection 17, Figs. 2 and 4, which extends through a hole provided in the plate V13, which holds the latter from turningwith respect to the cap. j Y

By turning the cap 6 inV the proper direction, it may be removed from the adapter 2, the key 10 having been previously operated to withdraw the bolt 11 out of the path of the Piange 12.

For locking the adapter 2 to the filling tube 1, the adapter is provided with a central portion 18 connected with the body by L20 `fromV turning in the central portion 18.

The lower end of the screw 2()V has a head 25, upon which rests a horizontal member coinpris'ii'ig a plate 26', having at opposite sides respectively two pairs of upwardly eX- ten-ding e'jrs 27. 'Located between each` pair ofr ears 2701i a horizontal pin 28 mounted in saidears isa right-angled locking member 29". The locking' members 29 are disposed diametrically opposite to each other at opposite sides respectively of the central portion 18; The latter has a downwardly eonverging flaring surface 301. which is adapted to contact with the'` locking members 29 the inner sides ot the pins 28, so as to swing the locking members from the depending po' sition shown in Fig. 6 to the horizontal position shown in Figs. 2 and 8, :in which last named position, the locking members 29 err-- tend across and Contact with the lower end of the filling tube l.

Inmounting my improved cap loch on a filling tube', thecap 6i' is removed from the adapter 2, and the nuts 2l and 22' are turned so asto permit the screw 20 to slide downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 6, in which position the longer arms of the locking mem-bers 29 will be depending, and in this position will pass through the filling` tube 1'. n

The adapter 2 is then inserted at its lower end portion into the filling tube, following which the nuts 2l and 22 are turned so as to lift the screw 2 to the position shown in Fig. 2. thereby lifting the member 26 and with it the locking members 29 which, in their upward movement will contact with the flaring portion 30 and will be swung b v the lutter to the position shownin Fig. 2, in. which position they will loclingly enga thev lower end of the filling tube; y

The adapter 2 will thus be securelvheld against removal from the hlling tube l. after the cap- 6 has been. screwed onto the adapter, and the hey l0 operated to slide the bolt ll into the path of the flange' .2, Access to the nuts 2l land c'annotbe had until the proper key l0 is inserted in the loch: casing 9' andoperated'to withdraw the bolt lliy from the path of the flange 12,. thus preventing unauthorized removal of the motormeter,.cap or adapter from the machine.

By holding the screw 2O trom turning in the adapter, turning of the latter on the filling' tube'wil'l notloosen the nuts 2l and' 22. Such turnii'ig of' the adapter will only cause 'the screw 20 to turn in the member 26.

lf at any time, it is desired to remove the adapter from the filling tube and mount it on the filling tube of another machine, the cap 6 is removed in the manner already de scribed, upon which access may be had through the adapter to the nuts 2l and 22. The latter are then turned so as to permit the screw 2O andi 'member 26 to lower, to the position shown inltigo, upon which the leekiii'g members 29' will swing to the `contracted position shown in Fig. 6. rlhe loching members 29' will then pass through the filling tube and the adapte-r with the parts i carried thereby may be removed from the filling tube.

VThe internal diameter of the annular flange and the external diameter of the lower portion' of the adapter 2 may be such as to lpermit the application of the'v adapter to filling tubes varying considerably in diameter'. Y

l/YJhen the cap' 6 is removed. water mayv poured into the radiator through" the adapter 2.

l vdo not limit my invention to the structure shown and' described, as many modifi-y cations, within the scope ofthe appended claims', may be' made without departing from the spirit ot my invention.

That I claim is y l. In a radiator cap lock, a tulnilar adapter arranged to be fitted on the filling tube of a radiator, mea-ns tor releasably locking' the adapter to the filling tube, a screw cap having threaded removable connection with the upper end oil said adapter and' having a vertical hole. a, motor meter having a threaded stem extending through said hole, a locking' member having a hole through which said7 stem extends, a nut on said stem arranged to clamp said `locking member against the inner side of said cap, means for holdingthe locking member from turning on said stem, and a locking bolt movable on said' adapter into and out of the path ot movement ot said locking member when the latter isj turned with said cap, substantially as set forth.

In a radiator cap lock, a tubular adapter arranged to be fitted on the filling tube ofr a radiator, means' ttor releasably locking ythe adapter to the filling tube, a screw cap having threaded. removable connection with the upper end ot said adapter and having a vertical. hole` a motor meter having a stem extending through said' hole, a lo'clting member through which the stein. extends, securing means on said stein bearing against said locking member for holdingl the stem against withdrawal fromy said can and said locking member', m'eans tor holding` the" latter from turningA on said cap, and a locking bolt movable on said adapter intov lou lili) and out of the path of movment of said locking member when the latter is turned with said cap, substantially as set forth.

8. ln a radiator cap lock, a tubular adapter having an anniiilar daring seat adapted to be fitted against the upper ends of filling tubes of different diameters, a cap adapted for releasable attachment to the upper end of said adapter, means for locking' said cap from removal from the'zuiaptcr, and means accessible only through the interior of the ada ter for releasably locking the latter to a illing tube on which the adapter may be fitted, substantially as set forth.

el. ln a radiator cap loclr, a tubular adapter having an annular seat adapted to bear against the upper end of a filling tube, and having an abutment, a cap tinted on the upper end of said adapter and adapted for removal therefrom, a vertically7 movable member, means carried by said adapter for vertically adjusting said member, and a lookingl member movable on the vertically movable member to and from a locking position with respect to the lower end of said filling tube and adapted when the vertically movable member is in the unlocked position to pass through said filling tube, and when the vertically movable member is moved vertically to the locking position said abutment engages the locking member and moves it outwardlyT to position in which the locking member will have locking en.-

ao'ement with the lower end of said fillimy tube, substantially as set forth.

5. ln a radiator cap lock, a tubular adapter having` an annular seat adapted to bear against the upper end of a filling tube, and having an abutment, a cap fitted removably on the upper end of said adapter, a vertically movable member, means carried by said adapter for vertically adjusting said member to and from a locking position, and locking member pivoted to the first named member so as to swingl thereon to and from a loclting position in which it will engage the lower end of said lling tube, and arranged to be struck and swung by said abutment to the locking position when the first named member is moved to the locking po sition, the locking' member in the unlocked position being adapted for insertion and withdrawal through the filling tube, substantially as set forth.

6. ln a radiator cap loch, a tubular adapter adapted to bear against the upper end of a filling1 tube and having an abutment, a cap removably fitted on the upper end of said adapter, a vertically movable member, vertically adjustable means including a screw supported by said adapter and arranged to support and to vertically adjust said movable member, and a locking member carried by said movable member and arranged to engage said abutment and to be moved thereby to the locking position whenr substantiallj,v as set lng a radiator cap loch, a tubular adapter adaoted to bear against the upper end of filling' tube, a cap removably fittedr on the upper end of said adapter, a screw vertically siidable in said adapter," a nut fitted on said screw and bearing against the upper side of said adapter, a member support d by and movable with said screw, and a loci-ring' member carried by said movable member and arranged to strike and to be forced by said adapter to the locking posi tion, when the movable member is moved upwardly the locking position, the locking' member in the unlocled position being adapted for insel ion and withdrawal through said lilling` tube, and in the locle ing` position engaging' the lower end of 'the latter. substantially/,as set forth.

8. ln a radiator cap lock, a tubular adapter adapted to bear against the upper end of a filling tube, a cap removably fitted onthe upper end of said adapter, a screw vertically siidable in said adapter, a nut fitted on said screw and supported by said adapter, a member supported by and movable with said screw, and one or more locking members pivoted to said movable inember and arranged to strike and be moved by the adapter to a locking position engaged with the lower end of said filling tube, when the movable member is moved upwardly to a locking position and adapted for insertion and withdrawal through said filling tube when in the unlocked position, substantially as set forth. j

9. ln a radiator cap lock, a tubular adapter adapted to bear against the upper end of a filling tube, a cap removably fitted on the upper end of said adapter, means for locking the cap from removal from said o pter, a screw vertically slidable in said :pieny nut fitted on said screw and supported by the adapter, a locking member, and movable member carried by said screw, tl-ie locking' member being pivoted to said movable member and adapted when the latter is lifted to locking position to engage and to be swunfr by the adapter to a locking position abutting against the lower end of said filling tube and in the unlocked position being adapted for insertion and withdrawal through the filling tube, substantially vas set fort-h.

l0b ln a radiator cap lock, a tubular adapter having on annular flaring seat. adapted to beur against, the upper ends o filling' tubes of different- Clizmoeters7 u cap removably ittecl on the upper end of said adapter, means for releasably looking said Cap to said adapter, a screw vertically slid- :ible in said adapter and held thereby against rotation, a nut tteol on said screw and supported by said adapter, s, member supported by said screw enel vertically movlsible therervithe and one or more radially dieposed locking 'members pivoted on horizontol axes to Suid movable member and e1'- rungijecl when the latter is moved upwardly to the looking position7 to engage :incl be swung by vssaiil adapter to vthe locking position in engagement with the lower enel of said filling tube and adapted in the unlocked position for insertion and withdrawal through the filling* tube. substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification.

EDVVN C. RENUT). 

